National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

RELAYS

4x100

As is the case with Edwin Allen and the other top Jamaican teams on the girls’ side, there has been a new level of excellence reached this year.  At the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Jamaican HS Champs (the “Champs” for future references), Calabar positively screamed a 39.35 – thought to be fastest ever by a prep squad from the country.  The meet record of 39.78 set by Wolmer’s Boys in 2010 is in dire danger.  And it doesn’t end there.  Jamaica College (39.69) and St. Jago (39.86) have also broke 40 and Kingston College (40.03) and Wolmer’s (40.08) have come very close.

The 39.35 is faster than any American H.S. has ever run and may be two seconds faster than any can reach at Penn here in 2014.  There are U.S. squads in Florida and Texas that have run sub-41 or have that potential, but the fastest U.S. entry this weekend is Serra CA, with a 41.64 best.  They ran that with Adoree’ Jackson, however, who was injured at Arcadia and may be questionable here.  Long Beach Poly CA has run 41.99 and several squads who ripped some fast 4x200s indoors should also be considered as possible finalists – including Union Catholic NJ (1:27.04 4x2).

4x400

Four Jamaican teams which have run between 3:08 and 3:11 lead the contenders, headed up by Champs winner St. Jago at 3:08.31 and runner-up St Elizabeth at 3:08.67.  Jamaica College was 3rd in that race at 3:09.97.  Defending champ Calabar was dealt a tough blow in the Champs when sub-45 talent Jovan Francis was injured (he had a 44.8 anchor last year), but they still ran 3:10.61 at UTech two weeks ago.  Four others have run better than 3:15.

But there’s definitely some U.S. squads who could make the final and maybe get in position to pull an upset.  Of course, that group is headed up by Union Catholic NJ, the NBNI champs with 3:15.53.  They scratched at Arcadia, however, so they’ll have needed to bring it back together to really rip one here.  NBNI runner-up Old Bridge NJ 3:16.48 is to be reckoned with, as is Bowie MD 3:16.61 and California entries Long Beach Poly 3:15.29 and Serra.  Again, Serra’s hopes at the highest level may hang on the health of Adoree’ Jackson.  Several other U.S. squads could be under 3:20 and a few others might threaten 3:15 or better.

4x800

A Jamaican team hasn’t won here since 2008, but that could change if top contender Calabar can live up to the 7:33.39 mark they achieved earlier this season.  That’s not to say, though, that no U.S. teams could challenge such a mark.  The last few years have seen a flood of 7:30-35 marks here, led by Ablemarle VA 7:30.67 record in 2009.  It’s a place where breakthroughs happen.  And NBNI 1-2 finishers Chaminade NY and Blacksburg VA might have the stuff to do it. 

That super race at The Armory last month saw Sean Kelly vs a one-shoe-wearing Kenneth Hagen on the anchor as they New Yorkers prevailed, 7:40.80 to 7:41.95.  Blacksburg might have the best chance for that 7:35-type time that it might take to win, but Chaminade would beg to differ.  At least three or four other U.S. teams are at a 7:44-7:50 level and there’s at least two more Jamaican teams in that range.

DMR

If ever a Penn Relays event can be seen as a NBNI rematch, this is it.  Eight of the top ten finishers from that spectacular race last month at The Armory – where Cardinal O’Hara PA’s meet record 10:00.75 led four under 10:05 and 10 at 10:15 or better.  O’Hara is primed to get the NBNI/Penn double, but West Chester Henderson PA with anchor Tony Russell (3rd NBNI 10:04.45) and Penn 2013 runner-up Northport NY (4th NBNI 10:04.98) with Mikey Brannigan and the McGowan twins are more than motivated for redemption.

NBNI runner-up Chaminade is focusing on the 4x800, but this Penn race will also include traditional power Saratoga Springs NY, which ran 10:07.11 for 5th at NBNI and sports great bookends with Jay Navin and Aidan Tooker.  Another squad to take very seriously is Christian Brothers Academy NJ, which put its eggs into the 4x1 Mile basket at NBNI and came up champions and national-record setters.  They won in 2011, were 2nd in 2012 and 3rd in 2013.  And if that wasn’t enough, there’s Palos Verde CA coming from the Golden State to contend; they were 4th at Arcadia with a then-US#5 10:09.98.  A Jamaican team hasn’t won this event since 1993, but Holmwood Tech – with 7:37 4x8 creds – is going for it in 2014.

DISTANCES

Mile

Luke Gavigan (Tappan Zee, NY junior) has had two breakthroughs already this year.  Can he do it again?  He hit the national scene with his 4:15.68 to win the Millrose Trials in January (a national leader at the time), then cut almost seven seconds off that to win Millrose itself with 4:08.96 a month later.  He was 2nd at NBNI, outkicked by Grant Fisher, but that was his only loss at 1600/mile.  He was 10th here last year.

Ian Milder (Mt. Tabor, NC senior) could be Gavigan’s biggest competition.  He’s coming off a big 8:51.53 3,200 at Arcadia, taking 4th in that loaded race.  He didn’t run well in the NBNI mile (4:18.67), but earlier had clocked a 4:12.71 that showed his talent at that distance.  Other key contenders include James Burke (Port Jefferson, NY junior), who ran in the 4:13-14 range three times indoors; Liam Purdy (North Rockland, NY senior), 7th at Millrose in 4:14.05 and a 2:25.80 1,000m runner; and John Stoney (Oakton, VA senior), 7th at NBNI in 4:14.66.

3000m

At the top, this race appears to be a Connecticut-Canada duel.  Christian Alvarado (Fairfield Prep, CT senior) – 3rd here last year at 8:26.25 – won the New England indoor 2M with a 9:00.29 and Alex Ostberg (Darien CT, junior) was 2nd at 9:02.74.  But Alvarado was just 16th at NBNI and Ostberg didn’t run, so they are to some extent question marks.  From St. Michel’s in Ontario comes Justyn Knight, who has run 8:19.48 for 3k in 2013 – just about equal to Alvarado’s mark.

Many others are in the 8:23-30 range for 3k, or could get there Friday.  Jason Menzies (Lafayette, VA senior) ran a 9:00.36 3,200 and Brent Demerest (Porter Gaud, SC senior) a 9:04.25 at the Raleigh Relays last month.  Colin Martin (Fox Chapel, PA senior) ran 8:30.82 for 3k indoors and Stephen Garrett (Tatnall, DE ) has run 9:11.10 for 2M.  Two further down the list, who haven’t run as well lately but have good resumes, are Louis Colson (Edison, VA senior) and Kyle Levermore (Don Bosco, NJ senior).  Colson was 11th last year with 8:31.62 and has run 9:06.61 for 3,200 last year.  Levermore was sub-9 for 3,200 last year and 6th in this race in 2013 with 8:27.80.  The huge field of almost 30 runners has several others who could surprise with 8:25 or better and contend.

JUMPS

High Jump

If it seems like Christoffe Bryan has been around at the Penn Relays forever, well, he has won the past two Penn boys’ high jumps – 7-0.5 in 2013 and 6-11.5 in 2012.  This year, he’s already over a world-junior-leading 7-3.75.  It would be a huge upset if anyone can upset the Wolmer’s Boys star who – as Walt Murphy has noted – celebrates his 18th birthday this weekend.

Steven Dunbar (Tallwood, VA senior) was originally listed to compete here – a 7-1 performer with a recent Arcadia victory – but appears to have scratched.  Another Virginian, then, will hope to give Bryan some competition: John Seals (West Springfield, VA senior) hit 6-10 indoors.  There are many others in the 6-7 to 6-9 range who will hope for a breakout.

Long Jump

Can Adoree’ Jackson come back from injury?  The Serra, CA senior has been a headliner in the event for the past three years, especially in 2014 with his Simplot win, NBNI runner-up finish, US#1 25-5.25 at Chandler and finally his Arcadia win where he was injured.  He was 3rd at Penn two years ago as a soph, then did not jump here last year. 

The biggest challengers to Jackson will probably be a quartet of Jamaicans: Michane Ricketts (Edwin Allen), Kingston College teammates Sharlanjo Nelson and Gavin Gibson, and Obrien Wasome (Jamaica College).  Ricketts won the Champs with 24-8.5.  Gibson was 5th last year and Nelson 13th.  Isaiah Brooks (Woodland Hills, PA junior) with a 23-9.25 best and Michael Egotanda (Vestal, NY senior), with a 23-8.5 best are probably the next best U.S. contenders.

Triple Jump

A pair of Jamaicans are positioned to be the top two contenders in this event.  Clayton Brown (Jamaica College) won the Champs with 51-9 and Oadine Lewis (Cornwall College) was 3rd.  Lewis, however, has a better PR this year at 52-0.5.  Brown was 2nd here last year behind Clive Pullen, whose Penn career included triple and long jump titles.  Darrell Jones (Monroe-Woodbury, NY senior) with a 49-1 PR (4th NBNI) and Ryan Thomas (Milford, DE senior) – who was 5th at NBNI at 48-10.25 but has a 49-6.75(nwi) outdoors – are the top U.S. contenders.

Pole Vault

A trio of New Yorkers are the main athletes to watch in the pole vault.  Warwick Valley teammates Todd Uckermark (senior) and Derek Dibona (junior) have bests of 16-9 and 15-10, and were 4th and 8th at NBNI last month, respectively.  James Deutmeyer (Fordham Prep, NY senior) was 5th at NBNI and has a 16-0.25 PR.

THROWS

Discus

In 2010, Chad Wright of Calabar became the event’s first-ever winner from Jamaica with a meet record 191-11.  Since then, two more Calabar athletes have ruled here and become the first over 220 at Penn, with Traves Smikle throwing a record 228-2 in 2011 and Fedrick Dacres nearly beating that last year with 225-5.  Can a fourth Calabar thrower win here in 2014?  Basil Bingham isn’t quite at that level yet, but he was runner-up last year at 195-10 and hit 197-9 to win the Champs last month.  He’s arguably the fave to give the school its 4th different winner in five years.  Two other Jamaican contenders are Alec-Verne Longmore (Jamaica College) and Demar Gayle (Edwin Allen).

Two Virginians and a Californian are the top U.S. contenders to turn the tide.  Mathew Zajac (E.C. Glass, senior) has been consistent in the 180s and a few weeks ago notched a PR 193-7 to become a serious threat here.  His brother Michael won here in 2006 with 178-6.  Also, James Williams (Radford, senior) was 10th here last year at 172-0, later improved to 179-4 and has a best of 178-11 this year.  From the Golden State comes Jeremy Franklin (Serra, senior), best known in the hammer and weight.  He’s thrown 172-3 this spring after 175-3 last year.

Shot Put

Benjamin Bonhurst (Smithtown West, NY senior) was the nation’s dominant putter indoors, hitting a US#1 65-0, losing only once, and winning NBNI.  He was 3rd here last year and eventually hit 61-11 last spring, but it was over the winter that he really improved.  If he won, he’d break a string of seven straight by New Jersey putters, including four by Nick Vena (2008-2011).

If someone’s going to continue the NJ streak, it would likely by Nick Pulli (West Deptford, senior).  He was 14th here in 2013, but also improved hugely during the winter, hitting 63-1.75, hitting 62-5 in a close loss to Bonhurst at Eastern States, then getting a somewhat disappointing 8th at NBNI.  Two other New Yorkers bearing close watch are Dennis Russel (Longwood, senior), who has a 62-1 best and was 5th at NBNI, and Eric Favors (North Rockland, junior) – 6th at NBNI and a 63-0.5 PR.

Javelin

This event has had just one non-US winner (a Canadian in 2007), but this could be the first time for a Caribbean winner as Trinidad & Tobago’s Shakeil Waithe (Queen’s Royal College) – who stands 6-foot-7 – comes in with an imposing 236-8 best from March.  He followed it up with a 221-6 win at CARIFTA.  Denzel Pratt of the Bahamas (St. Augustine’s) was 2nd at CARIFTA with 211-9 and was 4th here last year. 

New Jersey’s Curtis Thompson (Florence, senior) and Chris Mirabelli (Holy Cross, senior) are the top two U.S. threats.  Thompson led the nation last year at 214-7 and was 5th at Penn and 3rd at NBNO.  Mirabelli was right behind on the 2013 list at 214-6 and has been very close to that early this year.  He was 7th at Penn in 2012, but didn’t compete last year here.